What you need to know before traveling to Finland. Shopping in Finland: where to go, what to buy, recommendations

According to the Finnish Tourism Association, more than 1.5 million Russian tourists visit Suomi every year. At the same time, 80% of Russian tourists are residents of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, and 40% of the total flow of tourists come to Finland for one day or for the weekend.

Most often, Russian tourists one day visit Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna - the largest cities of Suomi closest to the Russian border and the capital of Finland - Helsinki. According to statistics from the Finnish Migration Service, the goals of weekend trips from St. Petersburg to Finland are shopping, urban tourism, getting to know local attractions, ecotourism, family and corporate leisure, and business trips.

Even a short trip to rest in Finland is a trip to another country that needs to be carefully organized: prepare documents, stock up on a map of local roads, choose a location, make a list of attractions that you need to visit in such a short time.

What documents are needed?

Due to the fact that Finland is a member of the Schengen countries, it will be necessary to apply for a Schengen visa before the trip (at the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg or the Embassy of Finland in Moscow). In addition to a visa and a foreign passport, you will need insurance, as well as a green car insurance card for people traveling around Finland by car.

How to get there?

The Russia-Finland communication routes are currently very well developed, and you can get to Suomi by any of the following methods:

• A train. From St. Petersburg to Helsinki, the Allegro high-speed train follows, and from Moscow (via St. Petersburg), the Leo Tolstoy train.
• Bus. Regin buses from Finnord and Sovavto from St. Petersburg regularly leave for Helsinki, Lappeenranta and Turku. In addition, a large number of flights are made by buses, minivans and commercial vehicle minibuses.
• Airplane. From St. Petersburg and Moscow there are regular flights to Helsinki. The most economical option is low cost airlines: GTK Rossia, Air Baltic, Estonian Air, Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, etc. - you can fly from St. Petersburg to Helsinki for only three thousand rubles.
• Ferry. Princess St. Mary sea ferries regularly depart from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.
• Car. On the Scandinavian highway to Finland, you can pass through the border crossing points Torfyanovka (Vaalimaa), Brusnichnoye (Nuyamaa), Svetogorsk (Imatra).

Where to stay?

If you are going to Helsinki for a weekend, you can stay in a city hotel or hostel (a more economical option), and it is better to book a room in advance through an Internet operator. For those who are going to relax in the countryside, the best option is to rent a cottage in Finland. You can rent the whole cottage, as well as individual apartments in the house. As a rule, in cottages there is a sauna, a fireplace, in the courtyard to the order of vacationers - a boat and a grill.

How to cash money?

Credit cards that can be cashed in Finland: Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diner’s Club, American Express, Access. You can pay by card in restaurants, shops and even pharmacies. It is better to exchange currency in advance, but in any case, upon presentation of a passport, this can be done in every Finnish bank. Please note that Finnish banks are closed on weekdays from 9:15 to 16:15, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

How to talk on the phone?

Before traveling to Finland, it is better to arrange roaming with your operator. If you need to use local cellular communication, you can buy a SIM card in R-Kioski stores. The most popular mobile operator in Finland is Elisa.

How to overcome the language barrier?

In Finland, there are two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Like most Europeans, Finns speak good English. If you do not speak any of the above languages, nothing awaits you. Finland is already accustomed to Russian tourists, and how much so that in some restaurants and shops you can get service in your native language. However, stocking up a Russian-Finnish phrasebook will not hurt.

Where to get tourist information?

It is better to make a tourist route in advance - almost every Finnish city has a separate website, usually with a domain - the name of the city.fi, where you can read about the most interesting places and architectural monuments that are worth seeing. In addition, you can always find useful tourist information, including brochures in Russian, in the kiosks and at the stands marked with the green letter “I”.

Shopping in Finland can be not only an interesting adventure, but also a profitable activity if you competently approach its organization. Any buyer in Finnish stores is always waiting for goods of true European quality, besides they are regularly sold at substantial discounts. You can save during various sales. For many residents of Russia, shopping in a neighboring country is no longer exotic, but for someone this is the first acquaintance with foreign purchases.

What to buy

Many Russians who regularly travel to Finland from St. Petersburg and the region are convinced that even the detergent purchased there is better than what is sold in the Russian Federation, not to mention Finnish fish, coffee, shoes, children's goods and down jackets. It is worth saying right away that the border between Russia and Finland can be crossed both as part of tourist groups and by personal transport, but its pedestrian crossing is prohibited.

In Finland, sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts and jumpsuits for babies made from natural materials are inexpensively sold. Clothing in a similar composition and quality for teenagers and adults is also relatively inexpensive, as are excellent leather shoes.

Purchases of household appliances are also very profitable in Finland, because after updating the lineup, prices for previously released models are quickly and noticeably reduced.

It should be noted that most people who choose shopping in Finland show the least interest in fashionable clothes, with the possible exception of Finnish down jackets and coats, since Finland is not a trendsetter in the world of fashion, and the local assortment of fashionistas is rated as “gray”, boring, uninteresting for young people and especially fashionable representatives of the middle class. But here you can always find high-quality industrial products of well-known European brands at prices 30-50% lower than in Russia.

Everything for hand washing dishes and toothpastes, shampoos and conditioners are very popular with Russian buyers. Food shopping is no less popular: fish and caviar, tea and coffee, olive oil, chocolate and Finnish sweets - all this is much cheaper here.

Many Russians bring home appliances, home furnishings and furniture from Finland. In addition to the undeniable quality of all the products listed above, buyers from Russian cities benefit on average 10-20% compared to home prices.

For Russian consumers, Finns even create a number of special conditions, for example, sellers in Lappeenranta fish store not only cut raw carcass of salmon or trout, but also remove all bones, and fillet is salted and spiced with spices, making fresh fish light-salted, suitable for traveling "to Russia - according to customs rules, the transport of raw fish and meat across the border is prohibited.

Benefits of Shopping in Finland

Those who have never traveled to Finland to shopping may doubt that it is interesting, profitable and pleasant, given the fact that the climate of this country is so similar to the Russian one, which means shopping can be less comfortable. as in the Eurozone countries with a warmer climate. However, all doubts can be dispelled by a full range of compelling arguments for shopping in Finland:

• short duration of the tour;
• consistently high quality of all Finnish-made store goods;
• affordability, frequent and impressive discounts and benefits from purchases compared to home goods;
• constant updating of the assortment of goods, for example, the appearance of new models of household appliances;
• the opportunity to purchase branded items at very competitive prices.

The main advantage, of course, is the pricing policy of Finnish stores. Quite favorable for Russians (in comparison with the peers in their city), prices also noticeably decrease during sales. The price of individual quality products may fall by 70% of the initial cost. Such seasonal sales are winter and summer, which allows you to go shopping with the whole family during summer holidays or winter holidays. But you can choose a weekend if your goal is a little shopping in Finland.

Reviews and general information cannot, however, fully reveal all the benefits of shopping in this country. It is best already at the planning stage of a shopping tour to know the favorite places of experienced shopaholics and mark the necessary points on the map. The names of the stores, in which those who have repeatedly practiced shopping in Finland most of all, will come in handy.

Where to go shopping? Helsinki

Most often, tourists arriving in this city by bus immediately get to the Kampii shopping center, as the store premises are combined with the bus station. In this shopping center you can buy household goods and household chemicals, baby products and much more from the usual assortment of purchases.

If the choice was made in favor of air travel, you can immediately start shopping at Jumbo Shopping Center, located in the immediate vicinity of the Helsinki Airport. On the territory of the shopping center there are 100 stores selling food products, home textiles, clothes, shoes and other things that Finland produces.

Shopping in Helsinki involves visiting many other stores with a diverse assortment of products, but the above outlets may be of interest to those in a hurry or poorly oriented in a foreign country and only want to buy a certain set of products without fear of being lost or being late for the return flight.

Lappeenranta

The city of Lappeenranta is the closest to the border of the Russian Federation, and there is a very large number of supermarkets, shopping centers and other stores of different sizes and specializations. Because the Russians usually visit him at the end of the trip.

Are you interested in shopping in Finland? Where to go is in one of the most important city stores - Armada shopping center, famous for its selection of clothing and pet products. Tourists also liked the truly huge Family Center, where you can walk for hours, if you wish, leaving the children under supervision in a specially equipped corner of the store, where they will have fun while their parents make purchases. An additional plus for shopping lovers is the fact that many other smaller stores are located next to the trading giant.

Russian motorists have long liked RajaMarket - a shopping center where you can buy auto parts, and other manufactured goods, and food.

Turku

This city is most often chosen by those who come to Finland for food, since the famous Trade Square operates in this place, where almost all farmers sell crops, and artisans offer handicrafts and souvenirs. Nearby you can find a large number of shops, which is very convenient for guests of the city.

For example, Hansa is the largest shopping complex in Turku, selling textile products, quality footwear, fur products, jewelry.

Approximately 90 individual retail outlets offering a variety of goods at attractive prices can be found within the walls of Skanssi, a shopping center located in the eastern part of Turku.

Kotka

This is a settlement near the Finnish-Russian border. Here is the Pasaati store, which is no coincidence chosen by Russian fashionistas - they sell quite interesting fashionable clothes here.

Shops are adjacent to hairdressing salons, where in the interval between purchases you can make a haircut or dye your hair.

For those who are interested in products, the direct road to Euromarket is one of the most famous budget stores, safely visited even by people with very modest financial opportunities. And for household products, it's best to look into Robinhood.

Tampere

The city is famous for one of the longest streets (exactly 1,100 meters), and throughout its length a large variety of outlets has concentrated - from simple department stores to luxury boutiques.

Being here, one cannot ignore the network of LIDL shopping centers, in which many product groups are sold: from foodstuffs to cosmetics and household appliances of the lower price segment.

The central square on Mondays is nothing more than a large market. On other days of the week, you can walk along several nearby shopping areas similar to a large market.

Lahti

Lahti is at the crossroads of trade and transport flows, so trade is booming here.

Students are always attracted to Jack & Jones - a store offering a huge assortment of good quality youth clothing. Those who like to sew clothes on their own should definitely visit Eurokangas to choose fabrics. Here you can also buy ready-made curtains and home textiles.

Lahti's main store is Trio Shopping Center, where you can find clothes, shoes, cosmetics, children's toys and much more. It is easier to say what is not here than to list the entire range of goods offered; it is not by chance that this shopping center is included in the list of the best outlets.

Finland. Shopping Sales

Sales in Finland are ordinary and regular. Currently, in connection with the general economic crisis, they began to be announced earlier, and to finish later. Such actions mark the onset of the new season. For example, they sell bicycles in late autumn or ski before the start of summer. Such events are arranged even in connection with the relocation or repair of the store premises. But the most interesting discounts are in Finland during traditional big sales: on June 21, immediately after Johannus, by the beginning of the holiday season and a decrease in consumer demand. A very busy shopping in Finland in January, as sales are always there after December 25th), and large mass spending on gifts and celebrations.

Shopping centers regularly organize special events when promotions are announced simultaneously in all stores located on the territory of this center.

In addition, sales days are periodically held in all Finnish hypermarkets and department stores. The most famous among these actions are called "Crazy Days" in the famous "Stockmann" and "3 + 1" in Sokos.

Armed with this knowledge, you can safely make shopping in Finland almost at any time of the year - the trip will certainly become pleasant and profitable not only for lovers of shopping, but also for Russians of all ages who want to save their money without saving on quality.

If you call from abroad to Finland, then dial the code 358. You can call abroad through various telephone associations by dialing 990 or 999. Phones are available both in kiosks on the streets and in public places and you can call either with coins, or a magnetic telephone card that can be bought at any kiosk. Information and information service number 118.

Emergency Phones: Ambulance - 112, fire brigade - 112, police - 112 or 10022. These services are called free of charge from anywhere in Finland. Address inquiry service (telephones, addresses) - 118.

Embassies: Finland in Moscow: Kropotkinsky Lane, 15/17. Tel: 246-4027, 230-2143, 230-2144. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Finland (Tehtaankatu, 1b, 00140, Helsinki, 14, Suomi): 6. Helsinki, Vuorimiehenkatu 6. Phone: (8-10-358-9) 66-18-76, 60-70-50.

Money

Currency unit: euro (€ or EUR)., You can exchange currency at banks that operate Monday through Thursday from 08.00 to 15.00, on Friday until 14.00 or at exchange offices that are open after 17.00 and on weekends. VISA, MASTER CARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS and traveller's checks are widely used.

Change currency are euro cents. 1 euro is equal to 100 euro cents. Currency can be exchanged at banks and special exchange points, airports and train stations. Most hotels and travel agencies will also offer their exchange services, but will charge a commission for the operation. The best exchange rate is at banks.

Euro is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Traveler's checks are exchanged at banks and representative offices of the respective companies, but the commission for their exchange is quite high. It is better to pay current expenses in euros.

Currency exchange: Currency can be exchanged at banks, at some post offices ("Postipankki"), at many hotels, seaports and at Helsinki Airport (the most advantageous rate at bank branches), often you must show your passport. Cash can also be obtained at ATMs. Credit cards of the world's leading systems have become widespread - they can be used to make payments in most hotels, shops, restaurants, at car rental points, and even in some taxis. Most banks can also cash out travel checks. Banks usually work on weekdays from 9.15 to 16.15, weekends - Saturday and Sunday. On holidays, all banks are closed.

When is the best time to go (weather)

The climate in Finland is warmer than could be assumed based on the geographical location of the country, moderately cool; significantly different in the northern and southern parts of the country.

The northern territories of Finland are characterized by long rains or snowfalls.
   As for the natural conditions in the south, they differ in less rainfall.
   Northern Finland is significantly different from the main part - here it can rain for 2 weeks without a break, and strong arctic winds blow literally to the bone marrow.

The average temperature of the warmest month in Helsinki (July) is 13 - 22 ° C, and the coldest (February) is -8 to -3 ° C. The average annual rainfall is 690 mm.

Despite the fact that Finland is in the north. In Europe, the climate is not very severe due to the influence of the Baltic Sea. The average July temperature in the south of the country is about 16 ° C. The average February temperature is about -9 ° C. Snow lies about 4 months a year in the south of the country and about 7 months in the north. Almost three quarters of Finland's territory is covered by forests, mostly coniferous. In Finland, there are about 1,200 species of trees and ferns and about 1,000 species of lichens. Representatives of mammals include bears, wolves, lynxes and polar foxes. Among the birds - wild geese, swans, tundra partridges, bugs, golden plovers. Salmon, trout, pike, and perch are found in rivers and lakes. In coastal sea waters - herring, cod, sea bass. The main attractions of the country include more than 300 museums, the main of which are: The National Museum of Finland, the Municipal Museum. The Mannerheim Museum, the Sports Museum and the Athenaeum Art Museum - all in Helsinki; Art Museum in Turku; Museum of Modern Art in Tampere; Archaeological Museum of Satancunn in Pori; Folklore Museum in Lahti. Among the architectural monuments: the Senate building, the Lutheran Cathedral and the Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki; 1907 Cathedral in Tampere. On the islands of the Baltic Sea there are also some Korkeasaari; sea \u200b\u200bfortress of Suomenlinna (1748). Not far from Helsinki is the Seurasaari Recreation Park and the Museum of Wooden Architecture.

The climate is temperate, transitional from marine to continental, and continental in the north. Despite its northern position, Finland is experiencing a warm and Atlantic influence. During the year, westerly winds with frequent cyclones prevail in the country. The average temperatures of all seasons are much higher than in the more eastern regions at the same latitudes.

What clothes to wear

When traveling to Finland, you must remember that Finland is a northern country, and even in the short summers it is pretty cool here. Warm clothes will come in handy both for adventure lovers and romantics who want to take a walk in the northern lights.

Therefore, based on this, you need to choose clothes for travel.

Do not take a lot of things with you. To travel to Finland, it’s enough to take a warm sweater or sweater out of your clothes, a waterproof jacket (especially for those who prefer outdoor activities - skiing, sledding, snowballs), warm (better waterproof) pants and comfortable shoes, a festive outfit if you plan to go to a concert or visit the theater, do not forget to take also a hat and a scarf. Try to take only those things in which you feel as comfortable as possible. In Finland, no one cares when you are dressed, so you will not feel the slanting eyes of the people who appreciate il.

Do not forget to take a pair of practical and comfortable shoes for actively moving around the city and local attractions. Good, well-worn shoes will not distract you with unnecessary inconvenience, and will allow you to completely surrender to adventures in magical Lapland. You must have comfortable sneakers and light sports slippers, you can also take women's sandals or men's sandals, in which you are comfortable going to the theater and who will not rub corns during long walks.

What to ride

In Finland, transport is well developed. The largest transport center of the country is Helsinki.

The country has well-developed maritime transport - in connection with the convenient geographical position, it is possible to conduct active shipping, there is river shipping. A magnificent network of highways and railways makes it possible to travel both by train, and by car or bus. With the help of air transport you can get from the country to any corner of the globe.

The construction of mountain railways and highways contributed to the development of forest, hydropower and other mountain wealth.

Road transport successfully competes with the rail in the transportation of both goods and especially passengers. Now, only intercity buses carry twice as many passengers as by rail. Over the past decades, several sections of new highways such as freeways have been built. The picture of the network of highways is similar to the scheme of railways.

The maximum speed, in the absence of special designations, should not exceed 50 km / h in the city, 80 km / h on the Paris Ring Road, 90 km / h on the roads, 110 km / h on the highway and 130 km / h on the motorways.

Both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, even in the rear seats.

Air Transport. Finland is very well developed both internally and externally. Between Russia and Finland daily flights are made by the Finnish airline Finnair and Russian airlines on the routes: Helsinki - Moscow - Helsinki; Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki. In addition, aircraft from Finland, in particular, the Dutch airline KLM, fly from Finland to Russia. From Finland’s largest airport, Helsinki, Vantaa flies worldwide. Domestic transport is carried out by: Finnair and its subsidiaries KarAir and Finnaviation.

Taxis can be found in separate parking lots or called by phone. To anywhere in the city it will be served within 5 minutes. Estimated cost - 4-6 EUR per landing, then ~ 1 EUR / km.

Finnish buses are not required to stop at every stop: if a tourist at a stop, having seen him, does not raise his hand, he will calmly pass by. Another circumstance that is difficult for us to imagine: buses to Helsinki often arrive ahead of schedule. This should be considered if you need to make transplants.

Car rental

Car rental in Finland is very developed. Finland is a gorgeous country, and if you travel to various fabulously beautiful cities of Finland, then of course, only on a rented car.

At any airport, at large stations and rental companies, you can arrange a car rental. The main conditions for obtaining a car in Finland for hire are prescribed in each agency.

To rent a car, you must have a valid international driving license, you must also be 19 years old (different companies have different “critical” ages), and at least one year of driving practice. In addition, a credit card is required (upon receipt of a car, a certain deposit is blocked on it). If the car is taken for one-way travel only, the customer pays for gasoline and runs the car in the opposite direction. The cost of car rental on average is from 200 to 400 fin. Marks per day +2, 35 - 4, 20 / km. Bike rental is also available.

In cars, the seat belts must be fastened by both the driver and all passengers (both in the front and rear seats).
   Road transport in Finland is right-hand with left-hand overtaking. As a rule, the situation on the roads is calm, the average speed is 60 km / h, there are highways with a permitted speed of up to 100 km / h.

The road surface of Finland is one of the best in Europe, and the country's road network has several thousand km of roads! Therefore, car rental points can be found in most cities of the country.

When traveling in Finland in a car rented in another country, to drive on the autobahn you need to buy a special card worth about 15-20 euros per week.

As for the rules for car rental in Finland, they are practically no different from other European countries. You need to have with you: international rights, but usually the usual “plastic” Russian ones are enough.

The rental price includes unlimited mileage, car damage insurance and VAT.

Medical service

It is recommended to purchase medical insurance that provides for the provision of medical care abroad, including the evacuation of the patient by air if necessary. If you do not have insurance, you may be required to pay cash on site for medical services. Medical care in Finland is based on various forms of payment and fully complies with European requirements

In some state polyclinics and health centers, you pay 8-10 euros for a visit. Hospital treatment is always paid, but the state only pays for a day of hospital stay (applies to those permanently residing in Finland), and in private patients you have to pay for medicines, examination, and treatment in general.

Be carefull

Finland is a country with a universally low crime rate, so ensuring security in Finnish cities comes down to general vigilance in matters of monetary settlements and to nullify possible misunderstandings and inconveniences.

However, for the guaranteed safety of your belongings and property, the tourist can always use the safes in the hotels.

If you arrived in Helsinki (Vantaa Airport) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., take free booklets and maps in Russian at the Turinfo office located in Terminal 2, in the arrivals hall A2, this will help you navigate the area. Booklets can also be obtained in Helsinki, in the Turinfo office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19, as well as in the streets of Finnish cities in green uniforms - they work for tourists.

Do not stop a taxi on the road, this is not accepted here. Order a taxi by phone (arrive within 5 minutes) or take it in a special parking lot. Please note that in Vantaa, in addition to regular taxis, there are also special airport taxis that take several passengers and carry them along the route that is optimal for the driver. At the airport, be sure to leave the porter 2 euros. A taxi ride from Vantaa to the city takes 30 minutes. Fee - according to the meter (approximately 4-6 euros per landing and about 1 euro / km). From 22 to 6 hours, on holidays and weekends the tariff is higher.

In the city, stay at the hotel (less expensive options are a hostel or camping). If you are not familiar with Finnish or Swedish, then they will communicate with you in English. If you arrive after 14:00, please notify when booking. If you smoke, check this fact when booking - not all hotels allow smoking. Keep valuables in the hotel safe. Carry a photocopy of the completed pages of your passport and visa with you and in the safe. Service is included in the room rate, but tips are well received.

Hiking and cycling are safe. Determine the route to your taste or buy a sightseeing tour. Bicycle rental is available at travel agencies, campsites, city rental points, and maps of bicycle routes can be found in bookstores and travel agencies.

Finland is characterized by a relatively low crime rate, but the number of thefts of personal property is quite large. One should especially beware of pickpockets at airports, train stations, public transport, trains, museums and other popular places. Leave valuables, documents and large amounts of money in the hotel safe, do not get your wallet in crowded places. Also, do not leave things in the front seat of the car during stops. When walking, do not bring bags over your shoulder - thieves on motorbikes are especially active.

With regard to crimes related to the theft of personal property, is increasing. Beware of pickpockets at airports, train stations, public transport, museums, and other popular tourist destinations.

Leave valuables, documents and large amounts of money in the hotel safe. Cars with foreign numbers more often than others become the target of thieves and car thieves.

If you become a victim of a crime, immediately contact the nearest police station.

Paying for purchases in large stores, do not put your wallet on the counter at the cash desk: numerous thieves are just waiting for the moment to take advantage of your carelessness.

Finland is a very safe European state that does not pose a threat to health. No vaccinations or medical certificates are required. Tap water can be drunk.

If you intend to visit forest areas, it is recommended to consult a doctor about vaccinations against encephalitis tick.

Remember, despite the fact that the crime rate in Finnish cities is surprisingly low. Well, it's worth watching over your belongings in busy places where pickpockets often work. If you nevertheless became a victim of a crime, then immediately inform the police by phone 10022.

You will need

• Passport of all participants of the trip, visas, hotel reservations, documents for the car (when traveling by car).

Instruction manual

The usual travel package of documents required when entering Finland is as follows: an identity document with a Schengen visa, an insurance policy valid during the trip.

The main document that is required when traveling to Finland is a passport with a previously obtained single and multiple Schengen visa (if the visa is multiple, obtaining a visa specifically to Finland is not important). Dates on the visa must include the length of stay in the country.

Mandatory documents also include an insurance policy (issued before applying for a visa, which usually affects the length of stay in the country). The policy is not always asked, but it is better to have it with you. In addition, it is better to have a printed confirmation of the reservation of the hotel, apartment or cottage with you. You can ask him to send to the email address and print it yourself. If the trip was purchased at a travel agency, a residence voucher must print and give the client a travel agency.

Families traveling with children need to bring documents for all children with them (foreign passports, the original and a copy of the birth certificate, as well as insurance papers). If the child is “inscribed” in the passport of one of the parents, the visa must be marked “+ child”. When traveling under the age of 18, you need a notarized consent to leave both parents (if the child is traveling without parents). With one of the parents, the child can enter without documentary consent from the second.
Since when entering the Schengen zone they may be asked about the amount of cash for each participant in the trip, it is worth carrying 100-200 euros in cash (or an extract from the bank confirming the availability of money at the bank).

For those traveling on, the list of required documents is increased by 2 times. The most necessary of all the documents is a driver’s license (you can use the Russian license to drive, but in order to rent a car in Finland, you need international license). It is also necessary to take with you a certificate of registration of the vehicle (data sheet), and a pre-issued Green Card (insurance policy for a car operating in the Schengen area). The Green Card is issued very quickly; residents of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region (and other border zones) can issue it even on the way to the Finnish border.

Trip to Finland   for 1 day or more. How to prepare, what you need to know and take with you? Features of the trip for "visa rollbacks", actually on vacation in this country or in transit. What to bring, what to speak at the border, and in general - how to behave ?.

Earlier we wrote about pro. This article is again addressed to motorists. But citizens who set out on a short one can learn something useful for themselves.

A very unusual pastime for a Russian tourist is a trip to a motor home in Finland. However, it can be a real adventure! The country is large and very beautiful, there are a lot of roads in it, there are a million lakes. Equipped campsites - no bill. And already (almost) any Finn is ready to pass the cottage to tourists.

Some things in our review may seem overly commonplace for experienced travelers. Well, don’t judge strictly - you yourself once rode for the first time!

Trip to Finland - documents

Let's start from a distance - with a visa in a passport. At the consulate of Finland in St. Petersburg, almost everyone is given the so-called "cartoons." They can be for six months, a year and two, or more, usually issued quickly and on time. The failure rate does not exceed 1% of the applicants. The main feature - the first time you need to enter it in Finland.

If you urgently need, for example, to Germany, and you are flattered by the Finnish visa because of the ease of obtaining it, you will still have to “roll back" the stamp with a short trip to Suomi. For otherwise, a forced U-turn at the German airport often follows. And homecoming with the canceled Finnish Schengen.

Applicants for a Finnish visa should also consider that they will open it (most likely) 7-10 days after applying. And therefore, the application must be submitted on dates as close as possible to the planned trip. Health insurance with a minimum coverage of € 30,000 must be valid from application dates   to the visa center or consulate.

Tearing the Internet in search of travel insurance and then spending time calling up today is no longer necessary. For you can choose a policy in terms of price and quality and you can immediately purchase it directly. For the price, at least, not worse than in the insurance company.

Despite the fact that for obtaining visas there is enough insurance for € 30,000, we recommend applying for 35-50,000. The difference in contributions is not critical. But in the second case, the list of services includes the free export of the sick person to Russia. In some cases, this option can be just a salvation.

Traveling to Finland implies the presence of international passports with valid visas. When a child travels with one of the parents, the notarial consent of the other today (2019) is no longer required!

• It is important that there is no document of disagreement in the border guards database

With different surnames of the child and the parent, the original birth certificate may turn out to be a good document: at the border, young children are always asked "who are you going with?"

What you need on a trip

Medication. Despite the valid insurance, it is doubtful that a Russian tourist who is persistent and self-reliant will seek medical attention in Finland in case of a runny nose, low temperature or mild digestive problems.

Therefore, the first-aid kit must necessarily contain sprays or drops from the common cold, antipyretic drugs, an activated angle, smecta, and especially careful antibiotics are taken. Bearing in mind that you can’t buy them in a pharmacy in Western Europe, you need a prescription. Corvalol and other similar drugs should not be taken with you - they are included in the list of prohibited due to the presence of phenobarbital.

Plastic cards in Finland are the main means of payment. Moreover, “there” they constantly promise that soon they will completely displace cash. However, just in case, a small amount should be taken in the "cache" - no one canceled computer failures.

• The average price of fuel at Finnish gas stations in 2018 looked like this: 1.45-1.5 euros - a liter of gasoline and 1.25-1.3 - diesel

Do not forget that if you intend to use a ruble card, the bank will deduct a conversion fee from you. And it’s not a fact that once: if your bank’s main settlement currency is the American dollar, then it will convert twice (rubles to dollars, dollars to euros) and ... will double write off the commission from the account.

No need to take to Finland

Meat and dairy products. And including, on sandwiches - no smoked sausage and chopped meat for you. Do not confuse - butter and cheese, as well as others!

In general, the import of “forbidden goods” into the EU is not monitored very closely. And if you want, you can carry it. In extreme cases, the customs officer will offer to throw everything in a special garbage container. And then it all depends on you: honestly throw out food or dishonestly bury it in your pockets or car.

Andiradars and radar detectors. If they discover (and some Russian travelers do not even hide them), they will confiscate and award them with a fine. In some cases, the visa can also be canceled - precedents have happened.

Video recorders today are often combined with radar detectors - such devices are also best left at home.

How to behave on the border

Naturally! Be yourself and finally stop being nervous. Everything will be fine if you are not a smuggler, and the procedure of crossing the state border will take very little time.

Lying about the purpose of the visit is also not worth it: if you are going to Italy in transit through Finland - say so. Moreover, the border service, apparently, has access to airline bases and ferries. And if you want, you can check that you are not going to.

Again, the presence of three suitcases with things in the trunk indicate intentions better than any words. Especially if among things slippers, bathing suits and beach towels ...

Where to stay

Here we can’t advise. But note that the price range is very large: if not for hotel rooms, then for private cottages - for sure. If you give yourself the trouble to search, and book it very ahead of time, you will be able to seriously save. At the same time, without losing quality!

When gathering, you need to be especially careful. Since already in September all cottages are booked at a reasonable price!